Clatsop County, Oregon
Clatsop County is the northernmost county in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2020 census, the population was 41,072. The county seat is Astoria. The county is named for the Clatsop tribe of Native Americans, who lived along the coast of the Pacific Ocean prior to European settlement. Clatsop County comprises the Astoria, OR Micropolitan Statistical Area, or Sunset Empire, and is located in Northwest Oregon.
History
The Lewis and Clark Expedition stayed for the winter of 1805–06 in the area, establishing Fort Clatsop as one of the earliest American structures on the west coast of North America. Astoria, Oregon's oldest settlement, was established as a fur trading post in 1811 and named after John Jacob Astor.Clatsop County was created from the northern and western portions of the original Twality District on June 22, 1844. Until the creation of Vancouver District five days later, Clatsop County extended north across the Columbia into present-day Washington. The Provisional and Territorial Legislatures further altered Clatsop County's boundaries in 1845 and 1853.
Before 1850 most of Clatsop County's government activity occurred in Lexington, a community located where Warrenton is now. However, commercial and social activities came to center on Astoria as that city grew, and an election in 1854 chose Astoria to be the new county seat.
Fort Stevens, located near the peninsula formed by the south shore of the Columbia river and the Pacific Ocean, became the only continental US military installation attacked in World War II, when submarine I-25 of the Imperial Japanese Navy fired 17 rounds at the base on June 21, 1942. The submarine escaped when the order was given not to return fire with the shore guns. While the damage caused was slight, the presence of the enemy ship sowed panic along the Pacific coast of the United States, and other minor attacks occurred elsewhere in the region, including Vancouver Island.
In 1975, Clatsop County commissioners considered seceding from Oregon and becoming a part of Washington. The movement was based on disagreements residents of the county had with Governor Bob Straub. The movement was created after Alumax Corporation canceled their plans to build a plant in the county. Some residents, including two county commissioners, blamed the Oregon Governor for the relocation of the plant. The State of Washington's Governor, Daniel J. Evans, said the county was not welcome in the state and Clatsop County commissioners later abandoned the idea.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and, or 24%, is water. The highest point is Saddle Mountain at, part of the Northern Oregon Coast Range.Major highways
- U.S. Route 26
- 20px U.S. Route 30
- U.S. Route 101
National protected areas
- Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge
- Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
- Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge
- Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Ecology
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 41,072. Of the residents, 19.0% were under the age of 18 and 23.8% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 44.6 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.2 males. 60.9% of residents lived in urban areas and 39.1% lived in rural areas.The racial makeup of the county was 84.1% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% Asian, 0.3% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.0% from some other race, and 8.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 9.4% of the population.
There were 17,533 households in the county, of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 23,017 housing units, of which 23.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 62.1% were owner-occupied and 37.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.3%.
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 1980 | Pop 1990 | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White alone | 31,078 | 31,756 | 32,364 | 32,295 | 33,526 | 95.66% | 95.36% | 90.83% | 87.19% | 81.63% |
| Black or African American alone | 167 | 99 | 156 | 163 | 224 | 0.51% | 0.30% | 0.44% | 0.44% | 0.55% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone | 247 | 361 | 342 | 308 | 344 | 0.76% | 1.08% | 0.96% | 0.83% | 0.84% |
| Asian alone | 442 | 419 | 423 | 445 | 552 | 1.36% | 1.26% | 1.19% | 1.20% | 1.34% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone | x | x | 50 | 84 | 91 | x | x | 0.14% | 0.23% | 0.22% |
| Other race alone | 109 | 18 | 14 | 48 | 231 | 0.34% | 0.05% | 0.04% | 0.13% | 0.56% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial | x | x | 684 | 858 | 2,256 | x | x | 1.92% | 2.32% | 5.49% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 446 | 648 | 1,597 | 2,838 | 3,848 | 1.37% | 1.95% | 4.48% | 7.66% | 9.37% |
| Total | 32,489 | 33,301 | 35,630 | 37,039 | 41,072 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 37,039 people, 15,742 households, and 9,579 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 21,546 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 90.9% white, 1.2% Asian, 1.0% American Indian, 0.5% black or African American, 0.2% Pacific islander, 3.3% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 7.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 22.8% were German, 15.4% were English, 14.2% were Irish, 8.9% were American, and 7.5% were Norwegian.Of the 15,742 households, 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.2% were non-families, and 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 43.2 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,223 and the median income for a family was $52,339. Males had a median income of $40,741 versus $28,463 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,347. About 9.6% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 35,630 people, 14,703 households, and 9,454 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 19,685 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 93.14% White or European American, 0.52% Black or African American, 1.03% Native American, 1.21% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 1.64% from other races, and 2.30% from two or more races. 4.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.3% were of German, 10.8% English, 10.4% Irish, 9.3% American and 6.5% Norwegian ancestry.There were 14,703 households, out of which 28.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.60% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.70% were non-families. 29.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 26.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,301, and the median income for a family was $44,575. Males had a median income of $32,153 versus $22,479 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,515. About 9.10% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.80% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.